Hand Warming Device And Associated Methods

ABSTRACT

A hand warmer device maintains hand warmth while not inhibiting dexterity in the wearer. The device includes a flexible sheet having an adhesive portion on an inner face thereof. The sheet is formed generally in the shape of a hand in two dimensions. Affixed to an outer face of the sheet is an activatable heating element containing a composition including materials the mixing of which causes an exothermic reaction. In use, a person can affix the sheet to a top of the hand by adhering the inner face thereto. The heating element can be activated by flexing the fingers, causing a mixing of the composition materials, and thereby the emission of heat. The heating device can thus keep the hand and fingers warm for some number of hours while leaving the palms and insides of the fingers free to perform a desired task.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices and methods for keeping a person warm, and, more particularly, to such devices and methods for keeping hands warm.

2. Description of Related Art

In cold environments hand covers are frequently used to cover the hands to keep them warm. For example common hand covers are glove and mittens. For those performing complicated tasks, however, these items of apparel can cause a loss in digital dexterity, which can be deleterious in situations wherein fine motor control of the hands and fingers is required. Attempts to solve this problem have been performed by creating fingerless gloves and larger gloves or mittens that encompass a held item, such as a tennis racquet grip, as well as the hand. Another solution is a “hand warmer,” which includes a disposable or reusable glove that contains components the mixing of which cause an exothermic reaction and emit heat thereby. However, the person is still required to wear a glove to keep his/her hands warm.

Among those affected by this problem are athletes such as football players, construction workers, repairmen, emergency medical personnel, and photographers, as well as any other people who must operate in cold environments for extended periods and require feeling or sensitivity while handling their respective implements.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a device and method for warming the hands that does not inhibit manual and digital dexterity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hand warmer device and, associated methods that address the above-discussed problems of maintaining hand warmer while not inhibiting dexterity in the wearer. The device comprises a flexible sheet having an adhesive portion on an inner face thereof. The sheet is formed generally in the shape of a hand in two dimensions. Affixed to an outer face of the sheet is an activatable heating element continuing a composition comprising materials the mixing of which cruses an exothermic reaction.

In use, a person can affix the sheet to a top of the hand by adhering the inner face thereto. The heating element composition can be activated by flexing the fingers, causing a mixing of the composition materials, and thereby the emission of heat. The heating device can thus keep the hand and fingers warm for some number of hours while leaving the palms and insides of the fingers free to perform a desired task.

The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will re better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a dorsal view of a hand wearing a hand warming device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional, exploded view of a hand warming device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to devices and methods for keeping a person warm, and, more particularly, to such devices and methods for keeping hands warm. The present invention provides a hand warming device to cover the top of a user's hand while still allowing full dexterity and sensation. The hand warming device includes an adhesive flexible sheet with multiple heating elements. The heating elements are positioned above the topsides of the palm, and fingers. When the user flexes and moves their hand and fingers a composition of materials within the heating elements react with each other to create an exothermic reaction, therefore warming the user's hands while still allowing use and sensation of the hand while performing other tasks.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, referring to FIG. 1, a hand wearing a hand warming device 10 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The hand warmer device 10 of the present invention comprises a flexible sheet 11 having an adhesive portion on an inner face thereof. The flexible sheet 11 may comprise a transparent plastic. The flexible sheet 11 is formed generally in the shape of a hand in two dimensions, with a central hand portion 14 and five finger portions 15. A plurality of activatable heating element may comprise five elongated heating elements 23 extending along the finger portions 15, and one larger substantially rectangular element 24 placed on the central hand portion 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2 a cross sectional, exploded view of the hand warming device 10 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The adhesive portion 12 is illustrated on the inner face 13 of the flexible sheet 11. The sheet 11 may be packaged with a removable protective cover sheet 31 over the adhesive portion 12. The removable protective cover sheet 31 may be removed to reveal the adhesive 12 for use, as is known in the art for bandages and other types of stickers. Positioned adjacent an outer face 16 of the flexible sheet 11 are the activatable heating elements. Each of the heating elements comprises a preferably thin, liquid impervious, envelope 17 comprising two compartments 18, 19 and a frangible barrier 20 there between. Each of the compartments 18, 19 contains one material 21, 22 having the characteristics that when mixing of the materials 21, 22 causes an exothermic reaction. A top sheet 25 can also be provided in covering relation to the elongated heating elements 23, 24 for protecting them and encasing them in a unitary layer.

During use, a person may affix the hand warming device 10 to a top 26 of the hand 27 and top of the fingers 29 by adhering the flexible sheet's inner face 13 thereto. The elongated heating elements 23, 24 may be activated by flexing the fingers 29 and the rectangular heating element 24 by moving the hand 27, breaking the barrier 20 between the envelope compartments 18, 19 causing a mixing of the composition materials, and thereby the emission of heat. The heating element device 10 thus keeps the hand 27 and fingers 29 warm for some number of hours while leaving the palm and insides of the fingers 29 free to perform a desired task.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed, Moreover, the embodiments of the device and method illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction and use.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand warming device comprising: a. a flexible sheet attached to a dorsal side of a hand, where the flexible sheet includes an adhesive portion on an inner face thereof to secure the flexible sheet to the hand; b. a removable protective cover sheet over the adhesive portion of the flexible sheet; and c. a plurality of activateable heating element affixed to an outer face of the flexible sheet, where the plurality of activateable heating element includes a composition of materials that when mixed cause an exothermic reaction.
 2. The hand warming device according to claim 1, where the flexible sheet is shaped as a hand with five finger portions for placement over a user's fingers.
 3. The hand warming device according to claim 1, where the flexible sheet is made from a transparent plastic.
 4. The hand warming device according to claim 1, where the plurality of activateable heating element includes a rectangular element and five elongated heating elements, where the rectangular element is positioned over a user's back of the hand, and where the five elongated heating elements are positioned over each of the user's fingers.
 5. The hand warming device according to claim 1, where the plurality of activateable heating element includes a thin, liquid impervious envelope housing the composition of materials.
 6. A method of use for a hand warming device comprising the steps of: a. affixing a flexible sheet to a top of a hand by adhering an adhesive portion on an inner face of the flexible sheet to the top of the hand; b. activating a plurality of heating elements attached to the flexible sheet by flexing the fingers; c. mixing a composition of materials within the plurality of heating elements to cause an exothermic reaction; and d. warming the hand and fingers while leaving the palm and underside of the fingers uncovered.
 7. The method of use for the hand warming device according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of: a. warming the hand and fingers for a number of hours; and b. performing a task while wearing the hand warming device. 